Improvement in packages for canned meat



T. ASHW Paokagefor Can 6 Meat.

No. 216,494. Patented June 11,1879;

Wines: 13

j nunws .lsjrwezl V 5501']? e y-s NPEIERS PHOTO-UTHOGRAPMER, WASHINGTON D c UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS ASHWELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PACKAGES FOR CANNED MEAT.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,494, dated J nne 17, 1879; application filed April 10, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS ASHWELL, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Packages for Canned Meats, which is described and claimed in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a plan view of a package embodying my improvement, the top of the case being removed, and Fig. 2 a transverse section of the same, taken on the line aat, Fig. 1.

' The object of my invention is to packthe cans of meat within the box or case ordinarily used for shipment in such a manner as to prevent the abrasion and breaking of the cans, which frequently occurs during shipment, especially with large-sized cans. I

The invention consists in combining with the cans of meat when packed in the shipping box or case thin strips of wood or other suitable material of the same length of the cans, and arranged between the latter so as to completely isolate and separate them from each other, thereby preventing the breaking of cans by the projecting flanges at the ends thereof.

This improvement is especially designed for packages of large-sized cans-for instance, fourteen-pound cans-a size which is now quite frequently used for exportation. These cans are packed in a strong wooden box or case adapted to receive such a number as will make a convenient shipping-package.

The case is of such dimensions as to just receive the cans, so that they will be closely packed when the can is filled; but, no matter how closely the cans are packed, there is great danger of injury and breakage 011 account of the rough treatment to which the packages are submitted in shipment, such injury being especially effected by the projecting flanges at the ends of the cases. These flanges are broken down as the packages are tipped from side to side and the body of the can broken open, so that it has become a matter of very serious complaint in the shipment of canned meats, in many instances 'a large percentage of the cans being found broken open and their contents consequently deteriorated on opening the cases after shipment.

With my improvement this danger is obviated and loss in packages by shipment from this cause entirely prevented.

In the drawings, A A represent cans of meat, which are of any ordinary form, in this instance, however, the pyramidal form being shown.

The cans used for canning meats are usually made of tin, and almost invariably have projecting flanges or turned edges a at the ends thereof when filled and sealed, which are due to the mode of fastening together the several parts of the cans.

When packed in boxes for shipment, these flanges are frequently crushed down or cut into the body of the adjoining cans when the case is tipped from side to side, thereby destroying the package.

To prevent this, I make the case B, within which the cans are to be packed, a trifle wider and deeper than is required for the cans themselves, but in length the same as usual, so that the cans A will neatly litthe case lengthwise.

In packing the cans, thin strips C, of wood or other suitable material, are placed between the cans in each layer, these strips being of such thickness as to take up all the surplus space in the width of the case when inserted between the cans, so as to make a tightlyfitting package.

If more than one layer of cans is put into the case, a similar strip, D, is arranged between the layers, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, so that when completed each can will be entirely surrounded by wood and isolated from its neighbors, and the partitionstrips passing between the end flanges will prevent all danger of breaking or cutting. When filled and the top fastened down the package is very close-fittin g and compact, and, as I have found by actual experiment, will stand the rough usage incidental to foreign shipment.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

As an im proved shippin g-package for canned meats, the case B, in combination with the cans A, of meat, and the separating-strips C and D, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

T HOS. ASHWELL.

Witnesses L. A. BUNTING, JNo. G. MAGGREGOR. 

